By Chuck Biedka and Margaret Harding, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Nov. 3--Firefighter Michael Remper said he didn't hesitate Monday morning when he heard children screaming from the second floor of a burning house in West Tarentum.
"I went through the flames to grab the two kids and the mother and drag them all out," said Remper, assistant fire chief of the Summit Hose Company.
The fire started about 12:30 a.m. in the house on Bakerstown Road. Remper said he was the first to respond, followed by Brackenridge police Officer Mike Duffy. They kicked in the front door in an effort to reach the family, which was trapped on the second floor, according to Remper.
Remper said he saw flames coming from the basement and on the second floor, but there were also flames shooting out along the front stairwell where he needed to go.
Then he heard children screaming upstairs where they were trapped.
"I just ran up the steps," Remper said.
Running through the flames, he grabbed the three, raced back downstairs and handed the kids to Duffy.
"And we all just got out of there," Remper said.
"At first, I thought it was three kids," Remper said. "The mother was small, too."
Terra Lynn and her 8-year-old son were treated for smoke inhalation. Her 11-year-old daughter was treated for burns to her feet.
Firefighters were able to put the fire out within about 20 minutes, Remper said.
Allegheny County Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Mike Brucker said the fire is under investigation.
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